Skip to main content
Games Radar Newsarama Total Film Edge Retro Gamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The smarter take on movies
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
James Gunn
DC TV Shows James Gunn is officially in the DCU after this sneaky Peacemaker season 2 cameo
John Cena as Peacemaker, Jennifer Holland as Harcourt, Eagly and more pose in the Peacemaker opening title sequence
DC TV Shows Peacemaker's new opening credits was "the only thing" James Gunn was "nervous" about in season 2: "You can't one-up the first season"
Things With Feathers
Drama Movies Benedict Cumberbatch is tormented by a giant crow in The Thing with Feathers – see the exclusive first poster
Paul Walter Hauser as Mole Man in Fantastic Four: The First Steps
Marvel Movies Mole Man actor gives Fantastic Four a 3.5 star rating: "I wish they hadn't cut my scene with Vanessa Kirby, but I'm stoked that I got to be in a Marvel movie"
Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong Donkey Kong 64 composer who went uncredited in the Super Mario Bros Movie was "so pissed" that he still hasn't watched the film, even if he has "seen that bit" with the DK Rap
Chris Pratt as Peter Quill and the rest of the gang in the superhero movie, Guardians of the Galaxy.
Marvel Movies James Gunn says he was told to swap the iconic Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack for "Britney Spears like '90s songs"
James Gunn
DC TV Shows Peacemaker season 2 features a surprise cameo from DC boss James Gunn, but you'd have to be criminally online to know it
Dev Patel in Rabbit Trap
Horror Movies New fairy-filled horror movie with Black Mirror and Monkey Man stars looks like an outdoorsy take on The Innkeepers – and I couldn't be more in
Lurker
Thriller Movies New indie thriller Lurker is a tense, cautionary tale about celebrity obsession — and it made me question my own morale
Feathers McGraw in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Animated Movies Wallace and Gromit creator teases Feathers McGraw prequel: "Watch this space"
Miguel Ferrer as Albert Rosenfield, Chrystabell as Tammy Preston, and David Lynch as Gordon Cole in episode 12 of Twin Peaks: The Return.
Mystery Movies "It's the gift that just keeps giving." Chrystabell remembers her collaboration with Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive director David Lynch
Reed and Sue in the Fantastic Four movie
Marvel Movies Marvel reveals The Fantastic Four: First Steps deleted scenes that you'll soon be able to watch at home, including Thanksgiving and birthday moments
Tron: Ares
Sci-Fi Movies Tron: Ares producers say Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross "love Disney", so it was a no brainer that they collaborate with the House of Mouse on the sci-fi sequel
Next James Bond
Action Movies Next James Bond: The 27 actors who could replace Daniel Craig as the new 007
John Boyega as Finn in Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Sci-Fi Movies Star Wars and One Battle After Another stars join "anime-inspired" sci-fi movie about a woman injected with superpowered slime
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best Netflix Shows
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

8 Great Music Star Cameos

Features
By James White published 23 October 2009

Jarvis Cocker's Fantastic Mr Fox job and more…

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)

Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)

The Muso: Jarvis Cocker

Cocker plays a character called Petey, who looks suspiciously like his real-life counterpart.

While his song for the film is still in place, his narration was removed because the studio was worried US audiences wouldn't be able to penetrate his Sheffield accent.

Appropriate Lyric: "Mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits, We'd like to go to town but we can't risk it, oh, Cos they just want to keep us out. You could end up with a smack in the mouth, Just for standing out, Oh really."

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

The Muso: Ian Brown

The former Stone Roses singer has a small, blink-and-you'll miss it role in the third Potter thanks to a friendship with director Alfonso Cuaron.

He was shoved on to the Leaky Cauldron set, and got to work a little magic by being a man reading a book and stirring his tea without touching anything.

Appropriate Lyric: "I feel fantastic, you make me feel majestic, you're sweet fantastic, your love is hypnotizing, your love, is mesmerizing."

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

The Muso: David Bowie

A habitual cameo-nabber (and occasional lead, back in the day), Bowie turned up in David Lynch's cinematic prequel to the TV show and only served to add to the weirdness.

He's FBI Agent Phillip Jeffries, described as "long lost" mostly because he stepped off the Philadelphia field office's elevator one day and turned up in Buenos Aires seconds later.

Appropriate Lyric: "Once a time, they nearly might have been, Bones and Oogie on a silver screen, No one knew what they could do, Except for me and you, They slip away, They slip away."

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
This Year's Love (1999)

This Year's Love (1999)

The Muso: David Gray

The fun but unremarkable rom com has largely drifted under the waters of time in 10 short years, but Gray, who hoped writing the music for the movie and appearing in a cameo as a pub band member would help boost his career, certainly saw the benefit.

He's now a big-selling artist with plenty of success under his belt.

Appropriate Lyric: "This year's love had better last, Heaven knows it's high time, And I've been waiting on my own too long, But when you hold me like you do, It feels so right, I start to forget, How my heart gets torn…"

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

The Muso: Jack White

White, clearly having the time of his life, turns up giving a slightly mad, but perfectly pitched version of Elvis.

The King in Dewey's life story is a hyperkinetic smooth charmer with a coif to worship.

Appropriate Lyric:
"Well if they catch me around, You're playing rock the boat, I'm gonna catch hell, And if you're throwing your voice, In bed singing a note, I'm gonna catch hell, I know it"

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
The Wedding Singer (1998)

The Wedding Singer (1998)

The Muso: Billy Idol

Somehow, it's perfectly appropriate that the man behind White Wedding should show up in the film.

Idol pops up as himself, traveling on a plane that also happens to be carrying Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's characters. He helps the pair reunite, not only introducing Sandler's song over the intercom, but stopping Barrymore's fiance from interfering. "Chicken or fish?"

Appropriate Lyric: "But oh if you're lonely, And so blue, It's here inside saying, Man for woman, Love's unchained ah yeah, Man for woman, It's insane well, That's right, I gotcha."

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
The Simpsons Movie (2007)

The Simpsons Movie (2007)

The Muso(s): Green Day

The band provide one of the few highlights in the overstuffed and patchy pic, playing on a floating stage to entertain Springfield's masses.

When they put down their instruments and start trying to plug enviromental issues, the crowd throws litter and causes the stage to dissolve, up-end and sink, Titanic-style. "Gentlemen, it's been an honour playing with you tonight…"

Appropriate Lyric: "Nice guys finish last, You're running out of gas. Your sympathy will get you left behind, Sometimes you're at your best, when you look the worst, Do you feel washed up, like piss going down the drain."

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Back To The Future (1985)

Back To The Future (1985)

The Muso: Huey Lewis

BTTF is practically a Huey informercial, since he and The News contribute two songs to the film's soundtrack (come on, who didn't dance to 'The Power Of Love'?) and appears in a small cameo as one of the judges at the Battle Of The Bands.

He's the one who says Marty McFly's Pinheads are "too loud." He plays a buttoned down teacher type well.

Appropriate Lyric: "Went uptown to see my cousin, Plays guitar, sounds like a chainsaw buzzing', In the crowd, I see his mom and dad, I said "Hey, hey Uncle, man your son is bad", But sometimes, sometimes bad is bad, Cool is a rule, but, sometimes, bad is bad."

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
James White
Freelance Journalist

James White is a freelance journalist who has been covering film and TV for over two decades. In that time, James has written for a wide variety of publications including Total Film and SFX. He has also worked for BAFTA and on ODEON's in-cinema magazine. 

Read more
James Gunn
James Gunn is officially in the DCU after this sneaky Peacemaker season 2 cameo
 
 
John Cena as Peacemaker, Jennifer Holland as Harcourt, Eagly and more pose in the Peacemaker opening title sequence
Peacemaker's new opening credits was "the only thing" James Gunn was "nervous" about in season 2: "You can't one-up the first season"
 
 
Things With Feathers
Benedict Cumberbatch is tormented by a giant crow in The Thing with Feathers – see the exclusive first poster
 
 
Paul Walter Hauser as Mole Man in Fantastic Four: The First Steps
Mole Man actor gives Fantastic Four a 3.5 star rating: "I wish they hadn't cut my scene with Vanessa Kirby, but I'm stoked that I got to be in a Marvel movie"
 
 
Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong 64 composer who went uncredited in the Super Mario Bros Movie was "so pissed" that he still hasn't watched the film, even if he has "seen that bit" with the DK Rap
 
 
Chris Pratt as Peter Quill and the rest of the gang in the superhero movie, Guardians of the Galaxy.
James Gunn says he was told to swap the iconic Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack for "Britney Spears like '90s songs"
 
 
Latest in Movies
Rumi, Mira, and Zoey in KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters 2 is reportedly happening, but we'll be waiting years for it
 
 
Godzilla attacks a boat in Godzilla Minus One.
Godzilla Minus Zero: everything we know about the monster movie sequel
 
 
Star Trek
Star Trek 4 is reportedly dead at Paramount, though a new movie without Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto could still happen
 
 
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator
Original Predator star Arnold Schwarzenegger could still return to the franchise, according to Predator: Badlands producer: "It would be really great to see him come back"
 
 
Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier
Bucky Barnes actor Sebastian Stan talks about his Marvel experience in past tense, and fans are getting worried ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
 
 
Killer animatronic Chica the Chicken peers out of the shadows in the Five Nights at Freddy's 2 trailer
The Five Nights at Freddy's 2 popcorn bucket may have leaked, and fans are wondering where the popcorn even goes
 
 
Latest in Features
Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake key art
As a Dragon Quest noob, Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake honestly feels like the perfect introduction
 
 
Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2.
No, we don't need Red Dead Redemption 3, we need to learn that too much of a good thing will ultimately ruin it
 
 
Key art for Alruna: End of History showing Alruna in front of a nuclear power station and religious iconography
Plant powers rule in Alruna: End of History, a grimdark Metroidvania about reclaiming industrial spaces, and I love the condensed approach to maps that still pack secrets
 
 
A bearded knight with a missing hand considers a replacement from objects hanging on a wall
I don't know how I feel about the changes Wizards Of The Coast just made for Magic: The Gathering's Commander format
 
 
Tim Robinson as Ron Trosper, making a toast
Tim Robinson's darkly madcap comedy thriller The Chair Company is the perfect antidote to the most overused trope on TV
 
 
My Dress-Up Darling female lead Marin Kitagawa with blond hair and pink eyes
In decades of watching anime, I have never wanted a season 3 more: My Dress-Up Darling season 2 was a huge step up, and the manga has so much more to give
 
 
  1. Princess Zelda stands in front of a pack of characters including Calamo, a Mysterious Construct, King Rauru, Queen Sonia, Mineru, and others in key art for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - slightly cropped for use as a header and thumbnail
    1
    Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment review: "Zelda is a fantastic lead in this action-packed Tears of the Kingdom prequel, but boring missions hold the magic back"
  2. 2
    Carimara: Beneath the Forlorn Limbs review: "Playing as a goblin thing to crack a gothic fairy tale mystery with magical cards has quickly become one of my favorite gaming short stories"
  3. 3
    Spooktacular review: "This is the perfect family board game for Halloween"
  4. 4
    It’s hard to imagine there are many gamers who won’t enjoy this quick but tactical board game for 2 players
  5. 5
    The Outer Worlds 2 review: "The Fallout New Vegas creators have crafted a masterful space age RPG that's willing to play game master to my silliest decisions"
  1. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi in Predator: Badlands
    1
    Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
  2. 2
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  3. 3
    Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"
  4. 4
    One Battle After Another review: "One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic"
  5. 5
    The Conjuring: Last Rites review: "Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens' final chapter"
  1. Liam Hemsworth as Geralt in The Witcher season 4
    1
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  2. 2
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  3. 3
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
  4. 4
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"
  5. 5
    Gen V season 2 review: "As strong as the first season, if not stronger"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...